Thursday, June 30, 2011

Last night I ate horribly... fish and chips doused in malt vinegar with tartar sauce and two glasses of chardonnay, preceded by onion rings and followed by a chocolate and peanut butter sundae.

It was fantastic.

And this morning I feel yucky. So I'm going to take my vitamins and eat really well today, starting with the Glowing Green Smoothie I recently read about in People StyleWatch's July issue, p. 135. (You never know where you're going to find a good smoothie recipe.)

It's nutritionist Kimberly Snyder's signature smoothie (she posted her recipe on her blog here... it is a little different from the one published in StyleWatch that I went by), and to make it you need:

1 1/2 c water

a head of romaine lettuce, chopped (I'm using about 10 oz from a pre-washed bag)

3-4 stalks of celery

1 apple, cored & chopped (I'm using a Fuji)

1 pear, cored & chopped (I'm using a D'Anjou)

juice from 1/2 a fresh lemon

Combine it all in a blender or food processor - this makes 2-4 servings.

It's called Glowing Green because the enzyme-rich fruits and vegetables are supposed to give your skin a glow. I need it.

I feel better already.

I'd never thought about lettuce in a smoothie but I really like it combined with the fruit and celery. It's very refreshing and the lemon adds just a little bit of citrusy tang. I love cilantro so I think I'll include that next time.

Monday, June 27, 2011

So... Air France maintenance workers began a strike on June 13th that is running for an "indefinite period". I am so thankful for the convenience and immediacy of services like Twitter and texting to keep on top of the situation. Delayed or cancelled flights take on a whole new meaning when traveling with three young children! At least I know what we're wearing...

Friday, June 24, 2011

It is lightweight but not too sheer, has cuffed sleeves and unfinished edges. Also comes in a bright peach and one or two other colors.

It is a very similar look to the Current/Elliott tee on page 108 of InStyle July 2011 - but priced about $88 less.

Speaking of July's InStyle. What a great issue. If you haven't picked one up yet, I highly recommend.

There is a gorgeously styled and photographed article showing French actress Clemence Poesy in Portofino (love the retro look of the photos on pages 164 and 165 especially). Also, travel product recommendations from a dermatologist, makeup artist, and wellness expert (I'm thinking of getting some L-Tyrosine Plus and B-12 Spray), and some great summer juice cooler recipes (I'll take a Green Tornado, please).

Lots of great fashion too - styling a bright cardigan, maxi skirts, wearing blush colored clothing (J Crew is featured on page 79)... just a great issue.

My packing is coming along. It now looks like this:

I have those two tees on the way from LL Bean and some tops from J Crew that I'm hoping will work. Also still waiting on a couple orders for my little guy and a nice sized order of Gap's Twist and Shout for my girls. (Have you seen this line? So. Cute.) I also don't have the Jack Rogers or BR Miracles on my sidebar yet but I'm hoping they arrive soon so I can get them a little broken in for the trip.

I went to the MAC counter yesterday for the first time in a long time because of a Pixiwoos video... having fun playing with some new colors and (finally) proper brushes. I'll try to get a post up in a few days.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

I wore my Banana Republic Mirras the other night. They are a little padded/cushy and quite comfortable for the height. The buckle allows you to adjust the tightness of the strap. The orange is a perfect, classic orange. Not too bright, not too spice. Just orange. I like them with J Crew's Coppelle Paisley print. My jeans are long and cover them up but here you can see it is a pretty nice match:

...and I carried my Shark Bristol/Pippa again. I like orange and gray together.

I just love a boatneck with 3/4 sleeves. Yesterday I ordered this in Bright Capri/Cream and this in Bright Navy from LL Bean to take on our trip.

Speaking of the trip, I feel a little more under control as we've now got our cars reserved and I have some new summer clothes on the way for my little guy from Lands' End and Gymboree. And I'm going to have some time tomorrow to work on this:

Thursday, June 16, 2011

My packing is beginning to take shape. I had to start somewhere, so I began with a silk scarf that I have had for years (then added another more casual one in the same hue).

Hermes The Royal Mews scarf in light pink (1994)

I know. Hermes scarves are so expensive. But I can't think of many other things (except jewelry) I purchased over 15 years ago that I am still excited to wear, much less base a 2011 travel wardrobe around. This can be worn so many different ways around the neck, as a belt, tied to a bag, even as a halter top (I'd add a cardi). Queen Elizabeth has this design in light blue.

I'm also bringing my lightweight under-$10-on-sale-score Nordstrom BP Fringe Wrap in a pale pink - very close in color so will go with the same things - which is much more casual and can go over the shoulders on the airplane.

This scarf has lots of gold, a little red, and both brown and gray on its pretty pink background. I like it with these two cardigan colors, so they were the next step in my plan:

Ann Taylor Loft cardis in hot pink and brown (purchased several months/maybe a year ago)

I added a white Loft cardi from a year or two ago, and my cardigan plan is complete:

I'm now putting together my lightweight tops and tanks/tees and a couple of F21 maxi dresses which will go with one or all of these cardis. For pants and skirts: charcoal, navy and white.

The Banana Republic Mirra wedges on my sidebar recently arrived (review soon) and I've decided I really want these *orange* shoes to come along too. I think I can make it work.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

I really like pink and peach, but usually during the day I keep it pretty neutral. My absolute favorite neutral look right now combines Nars Lipstick in Dolce Vita with Nars Lip Lacquer in Chelsea Girls.

Thank you so much to the wonderful Kate over at Nautical by Nature who featured one of my Polyvore/OOTDs here! If you haven't seen her blog, she shares lots of great sea-themed and preppy finds and also loves shopping and travel.

My packing efforts are taking a little more shape, though I still need to find a hotel for one night and we have yet to reserve a car for Italy. Updates to come...

I've been carrying my Shark Bristol/Pippa nearly every day since I got it. Gray is such a great color for a handbag, I've realized. Today I am really liking it with the hazy blue of this BR cardi and my peachy plucked fruit necklace.

My Stuart Weitzman "Donuts" arrived the day before yesterday and they are so insanely, fabulously comfortable that I am wearing them today despite temps in the 50s and light rain. I think they will be wonderful for walking around Italy this Summer. (I found them TTS - this is my usual 8 1/2.)

Speaking of Italy. I am beginning to get a little bit anxious about my planning/packing progress. We are nearing the end of the school year in this part of the country, and along with that you have all types of events, recitals, parties... I absolutely love participating in my children's classes as much as possible... and I also have responsibilities with our business. On that note, my blog postings may be a little sparse... if you don't hear too much from me over the next few weeks, I am just running around trying to get/keep it all together.

Here are my packing piles so far:

Not much so far for the children and the mess on the far right is mine... several cotton tanks and one black swimsuit.

That obviously won't do for a month of travel ranging from Denmark (city + countryside) to Italy (city + coast) to Georgia to the beach in Florida. (Also, I have to plan my Prada Outlet + The Mall in Reggello Shopping Strategy.) It is a fun project but it's going to take up some time.

I will post on those neutral lipsticks and try to get some updates on packing on the blog too. I've also downloaded a mobile blogging app so hopefully - if I can figure it out - will be able to update from the road! Of course, I will have lots of pictures and some reviews when we get back.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

When I'm not wearing something neutral or pink, I love a coral or peachy smile in the summer. This year, it's courtesy Dior Rouge Andalouse #435 with Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Glow #236 over.

For me, Andalouse is pretty bright (Sephora lists as a "bright coral") and the gloss softens it up a bit as well as adding that shine - making the color more peachy and subtle. I've found the Dior Addict brush to load with quite a bit of gloss from the tube which can get a little gloppy so I have to wipe off quite a bit on the side. It's also on the stickier/heavier side of gloss - compared to say Nars or Chanel Glossimer - in my opinion, so I apply pretty sparingly.

The Rouge Dior seems to be a pretty typical lipstick formula - not as hydrating as the Dior Addict I wrote about in the last post - but not drying either. Just a nice lipstick in a range of pretty colors.

I'm a displaced Southerner, mom to three beautiful babies, married to a very kind, easily distractable, brilliant businessman of a husband. I like: sunshine, coffee, cute shoes, expensive handbags, inexpensive jewelry, European cities, travel in Asia, doing laundry, eating out, fashion magazines, interior design, LK Bennett and J Crew, kate, Lilly, and Tory, Hermes scarves, and trying to figure out what is going on in the world of politics. I don't like: people who are mean or get in my way when I am shopping.